Ellen E. Edwards at a glance
- Current role
- Civil Court Judge
- Jurisdiction
- New York · State
- Judicial service
- Active
- Term and retention
- Current term ends 2027
Ellen E. Edwards
Civil Court Judge · Kings County Civil Court
Biography
Professional career
- Judge, Civil Court of the City of New York, Kings County, Elected, 2017 to 2027
- Judge, Criminal Court of the City of New York,Kings County, Designated by Chief Administrative Judge Lawrence K. Marks, 2017 to 2018
- Edwards & Associates, Managing Attorney, 1993 to 2017
Education
- City College of New York, Urban Legal Studies Program — B.A. (1994)
- B.A. in urban legal studies from the City College of New York in 1994 and a J.D. from Emory University School of Law in 1987, where she interned with the American Civil Liberties Union.
Additional information
- Elected to the Civil Court bench in November 2016, with subsequent elections confirming her position for a term ending in 2027.
- She has also held assignments in the Criminal Court of New York City from 2017 to 2018.
- A lifelong Brooklyn resident, Edwards is a registered Democrat and has been deeply involved in the local legal community, including serving as director of the Kings County Criminal Bar Association in 2008
- In 1993, she established her own law firm
- She was admitted to practice law in New York in 1989.
- representing union members in criminal cases.
- focusing on real estate, landlord/tenant disputes, complex estate litigation, and international business consultation, maintaining her practice for over 26 years
- Edwards has extensive experience across multiple areas of law, including criminal defense, housing court, surrogate’s court, guardianship matters, appeals, and mediation.
- Her early career included work at a small New York law firm and the Criminal Division of 32BJ Legal Services
- She has argued cases before the New York Court of Appeals and has been involved in high-profile cases, such as successfully challenging a juvenile life sentence in a death penalty case.
- Her judicial philosophy emphasizes fairness, sensitivity to seniors and vulnerable populations, and the integration of social work into court processes
- Known for her community-oriented approach, advocating for night court sessions, increased social work support, modernized court technology, and neighborhood-based community courts.
Applicable Court Rules & Procedures
Recording and broadcasting
Statewide
New York statewide rules require permission before photographing, filming, videotaping, audiotaping, broadcasting, or telecasting in court facilities, including courtrooms.
Taking photographs, films or videotapes, or audiotaping, broadcasting or telecasting, in a courthouse including any courtroom, office or hallway thereof, at any time or on any occasion, whether or not the court is in session, is forbidden, unless permission of the Chief Administrator of the Courts or a designee of the Chief Administrator is first obtainedPart 29: Electronic Recording and Audio-Visual Coverage in Court Facilities and of Court Proceedings ↗
Exhibits
Statewide
The official Guide to New York Evidence identifies court control over presentation of evidence as a statewide evidence topic; counsel should expect the assigned judge to control the mode and order of proof.
1.07. COURT CONTROL OVER PRESENTATION OF EVIDENCEGuide to New York Evidence: Article 1, General Provisions and Court's Role ↗
Published courtroom rules
Shared court rules
22 NYCRR Part 208 — Uniform Civil Rules New York City Civil Court
Kings County Civil Court
Civil actions and proceedings only; section-specific and specialized-part restrictions remain applicable.
Official source ↗ · Collected 2026-10-27Part 29: Electronic Recording and Audio-Visual Coverage in Court Facilities and of Court Proceedings
Kings County Civil Court
Scope is limited to the court class in the source claim. Shared court context only; case-type restrictions, exceptions, later amendments and case orders apply. This is not a personal preference or a complete rules inventory.
Official source ↗ · Collected 2026-07-26Part 29: Electronic Recording and Audio-Visual Coverage in Court Facilities and of Court Proceedings
Kings County Civil Court
Scope is limited to the court class in the source claim. Shared court context only; case-type restrictions, exceptions, later amendments and case orders apply. This is not a personal preference or a complete rules inventory.
Official source ↗ · Collected 2026-07-26Sources
Identity source checked July 26, 2026.
Biography sources checked August 2, 2026.
New York State Unified Court System Judicial Directory official judicial roster
Identity source · HTML · Source checked July 26, 2026
View New York State Unified Court System Judicial Directory official judicial roster ↗Part 29: Electronic Recording and Audio-Visual Coverage in Court Facilities and of Court Proceedings
Statewide source · HTML · Source checked July 26, 2026
View Part 29: Electronic Recording and Audio-Visual Coverage in Court Facilities and of Court Proceedings ↗Guide to New York Evidence: Article 1, General Provisions and Court's Role
Statewide source · HTML · Source checked July 26, 2026
View Guide to New York Evidence: Article 1, General Provisions and Court's Role ↗